Who remembers John Beck the Cambridge boss

[Wandofaleftpeg]

as mentioned grew grass longer in corners but also over-watered in corners too to help hold ball up.

Put sand in corners

It wasn’t his theory, he just employed it widely. It was the theory of Charles Hughes. Hughes identified that [up to the time of his research, which would have been the mid-70’s] the majority of goals were scored with 3 or fewer passes from restarting play. Hughes interpreted his findings / data to suggest that a team would never score enough goals by passing the ball around, and that to be successful teams needed to get the ball into the penalty area as quickly as possible from a restart of play. He wrote books and coaching manuals based on this interpretation. John Beck read them all and followed the format to the maximum. To be fair, it was relatively successful, I seem to remember that he was a play off defeat away from taking Cambridge from Division 4 to Division 1 in consecutive seasons.

Beat me to it!

And 2 fa cup quarter finals

 

[Kent Boy 2]

So while the Dutch were just about perfecting 'Total Football' the English FA were advising getting it in the mixer and keep the grass long in the corners. Explains why we were years behind everyone else internationally and what an incredible job Sir Bobby Robson did to reach a WC Qtr and Semi Final.

Tbh I like that there are different ways of winning but would prefer the tests of strength to be confined to the rugby pitch. It does seem almost unique to the British game though?

Yes, you are correct. In the 70’s and 80’s we were so far behind the top countries. I don’t think that it was until the start of the PL that we got away from having amateurs at the top of the FA running our game. Basically their attitude was…. We invented football and we won the World Cup, why should we do anything different.

 

[Pog]

Lost 3-0 at Abbey against him. Was beginning of the end fot Denis Smith after he played Benno up front in the match. Sacked a couple of months later.

I rember queuing outside when we heard the team announced with Benno playing up front. Should have just gone back to the pub.

 

[Arkle]

He used to turn the heating and hot water off for the away teams to get an advantage over them. First of many that resorted to shithousery I heard of!

Moved the away dugout to a less favourable position as well.

 

[Pog]

Think they used to grow the grass longer in the corners of the pitch so the ball would hold up better after a big launch upfield. Steve Claridge's autobiography is a good read, especially the bits about Cambridge, John Beck seemed like a bit of a character!!

Allegedly told his players to pick up a handful of gravel from the running track when taking a long throw in. Believed it would put off anyone standing in front of the thrower after getting a facefull of gravel.

 

[Honess10]

As ever the best way is a balance. John beck had all sorts of rules about not allowing any backwards passes etc or maximum number of touches. Like totally ridiculous

 

[contrarian]

Hi ho silver lining was a topper mind

 

[Deleted member 61339]

His theory was basically just get the ball in the opposition box, free kicks, open play, throw ins, get it in there.

Pretty sure his tactics was to get it into the corners as much as possible

 

[gluepot]

Based on the science of Charles Hughes a leading coach at the F.A. Getting the ball into positions or maximum opportunity (POMO) within a few passes was the aim.

It worked quite well for lower league clubs who adopted the tactics closely like Cambridge and the Wimbledon Crazy Gang.

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I'd never heard of POMO until Lee Johnson arrived.

 

[Swindon On Tour]

His theory was basically just get the ball in the opposition box, free kicks, open play, throw ins, get it in there.

Remember him very well.
They came to Swindon and were played off the park with Hoddle and Hazard playing superb football.
Two contrasting styles.

Beck was instrumental in making the away dressing room at Cambridge, smaller cold with no hot water.

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[Cyprus]

I remember John Beck and his highly successful spell in charge of Cambridge United in the early 1990s in which he two achieved back-to-back promotions from Division Four to Division Two and reached the quarter-finals in the FA Cup in successive seasons. His team very nearly reached the Premier League at the end of the 1991-92 season, finishing fifth (above Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn) but lost to Leicester City in the play-off semi-finals.

His long ball style of play, similar to that of Wimbledon, despite it's success, and unorthodox tactics were heavily criticised in the media and by fans and managers of other clubs including Glenn Hoddle (@Swindon On Tour).

He managed four times against Sunderland during his time in charge and remained unbeaten; winning two and drawing the others (one in an Anglo-Italian Cup Group Match).

 

[Rip Van Fish]

Not sure if Dion Dublin played for him. I think he did

And Claridge?

 

[Swindon On Tour]

I remember John Beck and his highly successful spell in charge of Cambridge United in the early 1990s in which he two achieved back-to-back promotions from Division Four to Division Two and reached the quarter-finals in the FA Cup in successive seasons. His team very nearly reached the Premier League at the end of the 1991-92 season, finishing fifth (above Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn) but lost to Leicester City in the play-off semi-finals.

His long ball style of play, similar to that of Wimbledon, despite it's success, and unorthodox tactics were heavily criticised in the media and by fans and managers of other clubs including Glenn Hoddle (@Swindon On Tour).

He managed four times against Sunderland during his time in charge and remained unbeaten; winning two and drawing the others (one in an Anglo-Italian Cup Group Match).

We were excellent back then and a joy to watch.
That brief period when Hoddle and Hazard paired up we simply purred pure football.

Now? - night and day in comparison. Ohh well mate we live in hope when the scum bags have left the building.

 

[Cyprus]

We were excellent back then and a joy to watch.
That brief period when Hoddle and Hazard paired up we simply purred pure football.

Agreed - Ossie Ardiles team wasn't bad either

 

[Swindon On Tour]

Agreed - Ossie Ardiles team wasn't bad either

Indeed. We were briefly labelled as the most entertaining team in the Country with the diamond midfield.
How the mighty (not so) have fallen ️

 

[Cyprus]

Indeed. We were briefly labelled as the most entertaining team in the Country with the diamond midfield.
How the mighty (not so) have fallen ️

I remember it well - attractive, attacking, "Samba style" of football ️

 

[Wandofaleftpeg]

And Claridge?

Yes, they both played ,dion was a great bloke ,used to have a kick about in the street with us

 

[The Hunter]

He was a purveyor of serious dark arts. Posters have mentioned growing grass longer in the corners, but he would also have the corners saturated before kickoff, so the ball held up for his wingers to cross.
The visitors' dressing room often mysteriousky had no hot water.
And, when I was sports editor of The People, we were told he ordered one of his youth team YTS kids to piss in the tea urn before it was sent into the opposition's dressing room.
That's all on top of his neanderthal tactics.
Charming fella.

 

[ozz]

Apparently, one of his trick was keeping the grass longer in the corners of the pitch, so long balls to the corner would slow down for his winger to get onto

True. My brother in law was an apprentice there and I was talking to him yesterday about this thread. He hated him with a passion.
One time a winger had the ball and passed it sideways when someone was free upfront.
He subbed him 1.5 minutes into the game.
At half time the subbed player twatted him in the face.

True. My brother in law was an apprentice there and I was talking to him yesterday about this thread. He hated him with a passion.
One time a winger had the ball and passed it sideways when someone was free upfront.
He subbed him 1.5 minutes into the game.
At half time the subbed player twatted him in the face.

It was Steve Clariidge

True. My brother in law was an apprentice there and I was talking to him yesterday about this thread. He hated him with a passion.
One time a winger had the ball and passed it sideways when someone was free upfront.
He subbed him 1.5 minutes into the game.
At half time the subbed player twatted him in the face.

It was Steve Clariidge

He was a purveyor of serious dark arts. Posters have mentioned growing grass longer in the corners, but he would also have the corners saturated before kickoff, so the ball held up for his wingers to cross.
The visitors' dressing room often mysteriousky had no hot water.
And, when I was sports editor of The People, we were told he ordered one of his youth team YTS kids to piss in the tea urn before it was sent into the opposition's dressing room.
That's all on top of his neanderthal tactics.
Charming fella.

that maybe true because the apprentices had to do all the catering at the ground.

 

[Safc1987]

When I was at the cufc centre of excellence ( as it was called) he was a horrible man, swearing at us 13 year olds ,took the football out of it, liked the quick big lads who weren't that good, said I had a great left foot and all the skill in the world but I wasn't quick enough! Graham scarf wanted to keep me but John didn't, couldn't stand the man! Went home deflated and didn't kick a ball for 2 years! Last time I see him,he was having a piss in a sink in a nightclub in town

You’ll of made it in the end though yeah?